The show's star Jesse Tyler Ferguson, who joked that he had been "elected to speak for the group", paid tribute to the other series during the cast's acceptance speech.

"We are so honored to be nominated against the brilliant casts of Glee, Nurse Jackie, Big Bang Ratings, uh, Theory," he quipped. "But also I think we'd be doing the evening a great disservice if we didn't mention the brilliant departing casts of 30 Rock and The Office.

"You all have set the comedy bar so high, and if we can be just half as brilliant and smart and wonderful as you are, then we've succeeded."

Ferguson continued: "We're all fans of yours - except for Aubrey [Anderson-Emmons, the 5-year-old who plays Lily]. She has no idea who you guys are! But if we can absorb any of you into our cast, if you need jobs, please call our casting director Jeff Greenberg."